WORDTIPS: HUMILITY-KINGDOM MANDATE
Matthew records the first sermon of Jesus on the mount and the first words that He said were, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3
No matter how much we have and how influenced we are, our spiritual life totally dependent on God is the key to enter into the kingdom of God. The poor are always forced to work and look unto their masters for their basic needs. Likewise, no matter how much we are spiritually grown, if we rely on God for our every single need and give Him the acknowledgment on receiving them, we are still poor in our spirit. Regardless of how affluent we are, if we can still really pray, “Lord, give me this day my daily bread”, we are poor in spirit. It is the strategy of Satan to make us self-reliant, not needing anybody’s help, even God’s. When Jesus could have easily turned the stones into bread, He did not want to do it because He wanted to have His supplies ONLY from the Father.
When Jesus was questioned about who will be the greatest in the kingdom of God, He said, “Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3-4). The prince of preachers Charles Spurgeon beautifully quotes, “Children do not try to be humble, but they are so; and the same is the case with really gracious persons. The imitation of humility is sickening; the reality is attractive.” So, it is not acting or trying to be humble but being humble always.
Another beautiful attribute of children is that they do not poke their noses into every matter that is not concerned about them (Psalm 131:1-2). They are usually happy with what they have – whether it is a small house, a small congregation. Their soul is always calm and quiet. The soul is never restless (Psalm 42:5).
So, the Scripture visibly infers that it is mandatory to be humble at heart if we want to be citizens of the everlasting kingdom of God.
DEFINITION OF HUMILITY
The Oxford dictionary defines humility as ‘the quality of having a modest or low view of one’s importance’.
Humility is to count oneself as nothing though he possesses everything. Jesus Christ being the Son of God and had all chances to be counted equal with God but emptied Himself, and took the form of a slave and was made into the likeness of human being (Philippians 2:6-7).
Paul who had all credentials to boast of his qualifications, tribe and circumcision counted it all loss when compared to the knowledge of knowing Christ (Philippians 3:4-8).
PRODUCTS OF LOWLINESS OF HEART
1. RESPECT FOR OTHERS – “Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory. But in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves” (Philippians 2:3). The humble at heart will not fight, will not seek vain glory but will consider others honourable than themselves. The Scripture clearly records that these conflicts and arguments arise out of pride (Proverbs 13:10).
We see Boaz respecting a Moabite woman and he was blessed to be a forefather of Jesus Christ. We see Naaman, the Syrian Officer respecting the words of his slave girl and was cleansed from his leprosy.
But king Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders and gave heed to the counsel of youngsters who were his friends. His disrespect divided the kingdom of Israel into two (1 Kings 12).
2. OBEDIENCE – “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5).
For example, Eve chose to disobey God because she wanted to be like Him as the serpent had counselled her. It was the same serpent that wanted to take the seat of God in all his pride and fell from heaven that now made her get out of the garden. So, our disobedience to the Word of God clearly says that we are not humble at heart.
At the same time Mary, the mother of Jesus with all humility without any consideration of how the world would accept her pregnancy or what her dear fiancé would do to her or how she would be dealt by her family, decided to obey the Word of God. And she herself sings that God took notice of her humble state and now all the world generation after generation would call her ‘Blessed’ (Luke 1:27-37; Luke 1:48). God surely honours those who choose to obey Him, how impossible the situation may seem.
3. WORSHIP & ORDERLINESS – During the days of king Hezekiah, they could not observe the Passover because the priests did not sanctify themselves and the people did not gather in time. When it was announced all over the surroundings, a few who were lowly in heart came to Jerusalem to observe the Passover. “Nevertheless, some from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem” (2 Chronicles 30:2-11). A few people knowing the significance of corporate worship came all the way to Jerusalem to worship God together with others. We are His flock, His building, His body and His holy nation. The Scripture tells us assembling together to worship God is mandatory (Hebrews 10:24-25). And, everything must be done decently and in order (1 Corinthians 14:40).
4. LINGERING WITH THE LOWLY – The lowly in heart will choose to remain with the lowly, shunning the proud, even forsaking high riches and fame offered by the haughty. Because God is against the lofty, a man with a humble heart cannot get along with aloof people (Proverbs 16:18-19).
Daniel succeeded in serving four Babylonian kings in his life time – Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius and Cyrus. He just told them what God had told him to say. He did not join hands and get along with them. His friends always remained the same slave captives who could pray together with him – Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.
Jesus could have easily got acquainted with the powerful authorities of His days. But He chose to be with His lowly ones.
5. MEEKNESS – Those who are lowly in heart will display meekness. These two attributes go hand in hand. Jesus is meek and lowly at heart (Matthew 29:11; Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:12).
We know how rude and zealous Paul was for his faith in his past years. But after wanting to follow Jesus, he shares the gospel and also his own life as a nursing mother would do (1 Thessalonians 2:7-8). He emphasizes that our meekness should be known not just to a few people but to all men (Philippians 4:5).
We also know the anger of Moses that killed an Egyptian. But the same Moses was trained in the wilderness for 40 years so that he could lead the stiff-necked, grumbling and complaining Israelites in the wilderness for 40 years at the stake of his own self. He pleaded with God to forgive them or just blot out his own name from His book. God Himself testified that Moses was the meekest of all men on earth (Numbers 12:3).
6. ENDURANCE – Paul who was much learned, had multiple citizenship, knew the Torah by heart with all humility and tears endured the plots of the Jews against him (Acts 20:19). The Jews watched the city gates of Damascus day and night to kill him (Acts 9:24). At Iconium they planned to abuse and stone him (Acts 14:1-5). At Lystra they dragged him out of the city and stoned him until he was thought to be dead (Acts 14:19), and many more such persecutions. But out of humility of heart, Paul endured these for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
SIGN OF SPIRITUAL PRIDE WITH THE LEADERS
1. I ALONE – Today we see world leaders say that they alone are godly, they alone are used by God to preach or to prophesy or that they alone are right. When Elijah complained to God against the Israelites saying that they have killed all the prophets of God and were seeking to kill him, for he alone was left serving God, God replies that He had preserved 7000 more for Him (Romans 11:2-4). Let’s therefore not think that we alone are faithful, we alone are sincere and we alone hear the voice of God. There are thousands hidden in the kingdom of God.
2. SUPREME POWER – Jesus clearly teaches that the leaders of the world exercise authority and take the lordship over their subjects. But in the kingdom culture, the one who wants be great must be their servant and the one who wants to be the first must be their slave (Matthew 20:25-28).
3. CHIEF POSITION – It is the world’s customary for its leaders to take the seat of honour. But Biblical leaders are called to serve, to take the last seat (Luke 22:27). We see Jesus making His disciples sit at the table and Himself getting out of the food that was served before Him, washed the feet of His disciples. He has set an example to us and charges us to do the same (John 13:12-15).
4. DEMAND HONOR – Jesus warns us to beware of those that expect us to greet them with overstated reverence and exaggerated titles (Luke 11:43). Jesus never accepted glory and honour from men (John 5:41). He who seeks personal glory speaks out of his own and not the TRUTH (John 7:18).
A humble leader will serve his people. He will not seek to be served. The Son of man came not be to served but to serve and even give His life for the people (Luke 22:24-27). Jesus washed the feet of His disciples and has taught us to do so.
One who is a true disciple of Jesus will deny himself and carry his cross unashamed (Luke 9:23).
HUMILITY OF THE KING OF KINGS
Jesus Christ, the King of kings and the Lord of lords asks us to take His yoke upon us and learn from Him. For, He is gentle and humble in heart. When we learn these attributes from Him, our souls will find rest (Matthew 11:29). He was meek and humble to ride upon an ass and a colt (Matthew 21:5; Zechariah 9:9). Asses were once used to ride upon (Judges 10:4; 12:14). But after the days of Solomon, people used horses. Only the poor used the asses. The Romans used horses for their journeys in the New Testament (Acts 23:23-24; 32). He was humble enough to walk street after street, healing the sick and casting out demons. He was humble enough to have illiterate men to be His disciples. He was humble enough to wash and wipe their feet. He was humble enough to allow authorities to have Him on trial. He was humble enough to let Himself be mocked, spat upon, hit, beaten and to be nailed on the cross. We all were saved by the grace of God. But we need more grace to live a perfect life on earth and receive the salvation that will be revealed on the last day (1 Peter 1:5). There is a grace that will be brought to us when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world (1 Peter 1:13). Therefore, let us not be haughty but remain humble every day as Jesus humbled and obeyed until His death (Philippians 2:8). God bless You!
